3-3-5 & Will Campbell (Toledo Blade)
Didn't see this posted anywhere. Not too much we didn't know, but I do remember reading something 'round here about "Should we be worried we haven't heard any praise for Will Campbell?". Thor comes in for some praise in the article, though it's not too over-the-top OMG shirtless:
"Former blue-chip nose tackle Will Campbell, who played sparingly a year ago as a true freshman, is receiving strong reports from camp. 'I think he's gotten better each day,' Rodriguez said. 'He still has to play lower at times, but he's using his hands a lot better. He's had a pretty productive first three days and I think he's going to continue to get better.'"
JT Floyd & Woolfolk also feature.
Link: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100324/SPORTS17…
March 25th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
A front three of Martin, Campbell and VanBergen, with Roh as an OLB that can come to the line when needed (moving Martin to DT) looks pretty impressive to me.
Add Herron backing up Roh, Banks backing up Martin and VanBergen, and Sagesse backing up Campbell.
Then a whole clan of true freshmen in the wings.
The first "3" in the 3-3-5 is set. The second "3" with Roh, Mouton, and Ezeh/Fitz looks good on paper if the men in the middle improve this year. The "5"... here's hoping.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
Given that big Will can do this, I'm all for him anchoring the middle of our line
March 25th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
doesn't big Will know that gingers have souls?
March 25th, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
actively trying to beat his soul out of him.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^
studies show. Hence the request that we all treat them gingerLY.
Destroy
is who is that he's throwing like a rag doll?
March 26th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
Believe it's CRex.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^
Just thinking back to how he looked in high school Will is looking much slimmer and in shape. If his skills match his physique he will be quite the force to be reckoned with.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:16 AM ^
Midling Big Ten defense should make us a top 2-3 conference contender...that is all I ask.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
I guess another upside of us going to the 3-3-5 is that Big Will's progress must be good if the coaches are altering the defensive front for our base set.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
or maybe it is. Last year we called it a 4-3 under yet played a former safety (Brown) at LB. Roh was a DE/LB hybrid. We had three down lineman most of the time, but we didn't utilize the stack.
The so called 3-3-5 stack will be used against certain teams (Ill & ND for sure) and not against others (Wisconsin).
March 25th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
+1 to RR for mentioning pad level.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
My biggest concern up front is moving Martin to end. I'm not sure if his particular skill set is going to be anywhere near as effective if he needs to keep contain.
However, if that works, I expect aobut 7.6 PPG by the defense, no sweat...
March 25th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
With Martin in the middle forcing people to the outside. I think the speed we have now would be perfect against the run.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
It's far better than having him as a NT. While he played really well for being in a less than ideal position for him last year, there were several times he was blown literally ten yards off the ball.
His skill set is best suited to a play a penetrating one gap 3 tech undertackle role, where he can use all of his tools (quickness, agility, power, technique), instead of playing a two gap nose tackle role, where his agility and quickness are somewhat nullified by the role he's asked to play.
Is DE perfect? No. But is it better than NT? Absolutely.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
outside contain responsibilities alot. Thats the OLBs/Spur/Bandit. He's getting moved to a more natural position for him, that lets him slash and not get doubled as much as a nose does.
OLBs will hold down the contain responsibilities, and Martin will be probably play a 4-tech / B gap. Also, I'd bet big money that they regularly shift Martin inside to a 3 tech and walk somebody up a bandit to help with outside leverage. But that's just like, my opinion man.
Yeah, I kind of picture a quasi 4-man front depending on down and distance, kind of like the "3-4" that Michigan ran for a long time.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
...to his job.
Two typos in one paragraph:
Woolfolk is expected to start at one corner, but solid competition envelopes the other four spots in the secondary. Jordan Kovacs and Mike Williams started frequently at safety a year ago, but to keep their jobs they'll need to stage off sophomore Vladimir Emilien (currently sidelined with a knee sprain), redshirt freshman Cam Gordon, and a crop of incoming recruits.Envelops, not envelopes. Crappy word choice either way. Stave off, not stage off.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
that this editor couldn't care less what you think about his grammar.
is this joke played out already?
Catch the excitement!
Catch the excetiment!
March 26th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
...Catch the excerment!
Excrement. Sorry, can't help it.
...this sub-thread has several purposeful misspellings. Come on now! Read a second time before you comment if you think you might be confused.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
I'll go sit in my corner now.
I saw Will Campbell in person recently (stalkeriffic!) and I swear to god he looks 35 years old.
He also looked like he could tear my legs off without a second thought, so I have high hopes for him this year.
The man loves to goof around on the bball court, make ridiculous passes and chuck the ball up (played w him at the ccrb a few times). He is definitely a goofball in a Hulk's body. Those who play the game best have fun while doing it and I just wanted to say I dig his personality along with his mammoth frame.
+1 for going public with your bromance
I'm sure he doesn't look a day older than the 42 Greg Oden looked when he went pro
Kevin Koger?
If Will Campbell can play like Shaun Rogers with endurance to play more than five plays a game, we might have a defense this year.
Not much has been said out the 5 in our 3-3-5. I know we are young there but unit speed is much improved from last year…. I’m hope we see some young ball hawks flying in Sept.
The thing about the "5" is that they're going to be the same guys they would be if we ran a 4-3. Brandin Hawthorne likely would be the SAM in a 4-3. Now Hawthorne is playing one of the strong safety positions (whether or not he wins it is a different story). Meanwhile, a bunch of people wanted Kovacs to play SAM, and he's playing strong safety, too. So the personnel is virtually the same. GERG is just moving around alignments and responsibilities, not really the personnel.
With the move toward spread offenses, I predict we're going to see some truly weird defenses, like 2-6-3, be trotted out on occasion. (Base defenses will still probably be the same.) I'd love to see, on a 3rd and long, a DC throw out an all LB/DB defense, with like seven guys standing up near the LOS. Some would blitz, some would drop back. At the snap, the offensive line would have no idea whom to block.
The Browns did this several years ago. They called it their "UFO defense." Maybe it's just because it was the Browns, but it didn't work very well.
Well in third-and-forever situations I drop all of my defensive players into coverage in NCAA 10. Just sayin'.